Who doesn't have a small fear of snakes, right? But there are people who have a real chronic fear of snakes Therefore, to understand more about it, we invite you to read our post!

Chronic fear of snakes: what is it?

Just like any other phobia, the ofidiophobia, the name for snake phobia It usually involves an anxiety disorder because of this, and people tend to feel ill when they encounter this type of reptile.

By the way, in more serious cases of snake phobia In more delicate situations, the subject may even have a heart problem.

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The cause of snake phobia However, for some scientists, this irrational fear is related to an ancestral heritage, where this type of reptile represented a great threat.

Because of this, this is one of the causes why this phobia has become one of the most common in our society. In addition, most snakes are venomous, meaning that they can inject their venoms into humans, which is deadly. Although many people have never had contact with these animals, they can develop this phobia.

What are the symptoms of snake phobia?

Generally speaking, the symptoms of those with snake phobia are:

Uncontrollable anxiety

The person feels an anxiety, especially, when he is about to see a snake, either in person or by a photo.

"Lame excuses"

The subject makes several excuses in order to avoid seeing this type of reptile, so she manipulates all her steps to do so, such as not watching movies that have snakes in them.

Crying and difficulty breathing

When the person sees a snake, he starts screaming or crying. In addition, he has difficulty breathing and presents with trembling.

Increased heart rate

In addition to being extremely anxious, the person has an increased heart rate when they are in places where there are snakes or serpents.

Irrational dread

Finally, the person who is afraid of snakes affects his life, especially when he is in gardens or zoos, and presents an irrational dread. In fact, many times, just imagining these animals, he begins to have this fear without reason.

How to cure chronic fear of snakes?

There are several ways to cure snake phobia, however, the most commonly used are:

1 - Desensitization and reprocessing

This type of therapy is very effective in treating any kind of traumatic experiences that can cause ophidiophobia. It works like this: it helps a person overcome fear by looking at images of snakes. In fact, this process is done in a gradual way that allows the person to overcome the snake phobia. Ultimately, it helps the person to move on in life normally.

2 - Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

This type of therapy helps the person to identify which of his or her thought patterns are connected with his or her chronic fear of snakes by writing down his or her ideas about why they are so afraid of this type of reptile.

Generally speaking, these thoughts are, for example, "they are dangerous and can kill humans" and "snakes are slimy". By putting these ideas on paper, the person with a fear of snake identify what patterns lead to this stress.

To help decrease this chronic fear of snakes, the person learns to replace their negative emotions with more positive beliefs.

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3 - Individual or group therapy counseling

Putting out what your fears are is very helpful in releasing negative feelings. Moreover, it is a good way to share or learn new strategies for dealing with snake phobia.

4 - Relaxation techniques

Finally, the last way to treat chronic fear of snakes is relaxation techniques. Meditation, controlled breathing, and positive reaffirmations when seeing an image of snakes are some examples. By the way, the great benefit of these techniques is that the person can adapt them as needed and helps the person overcome his or her snake phobia.

By using any of the above treatment options, there is a good chance of losing your fear of snakes The result will not only be to have a normal life, but also to be able to enjoy these creatures that play a very important role in our environmental system.

What are the causes of the phobia?

Talking about phobias in general, the real causes are unknown. However, there are several researches that point out that some of them are related as:

• experiences that can be traumatic;
• genetic factors or family history.

In addition, the causes of the phobia can be related to traumas that occurred in childhood, or in adulthood. To understand better, imagine that as a child you went to the dentist. In that place, the professional removed one of your teeth and you felt a lot of pain.

Even if you don't remember the details of that event, that moment of suffering is etched in your mind and as it is you associate it with pain.

Can snake phobia be cured?

It is important to note that the phobia is linked to its cause, so because of this, some people can be cured while others cannot. However, with treatment it is possible to decrease the symptoms quickly, if it is done on a continuous basis.

To have an adequate treatment it is necessary to make a solid diagnosis. Only specialized professionals such as psychologists and psychiatrists can do this, since they will evaluate not only the experience of fear, but also its impacts on the patient's life.

How can psychoanalysis help in the treatment of fear of snakes?

For the field of psychoanalysis, phobia is a consequence of problems in our unconscious. And this irrational and exaggerated fear is related to pictures of anguish and anxiety.

According to Sigmund Freud, the father of psychoanalysis, the manifestation of phobia is very similar to those that occur in neurosis and hysteria Furthermore, psychoanalysis explains that this irrational fear is a consequence of various feelings that are related to situations that only the unconscious has perceived.

Because of this, the line of psychoanalysis will help the person to deal with his or her own conflicts and no longer have the signs of this snake phobia.

Final thoughts on chronic fear of snakes

To help you to always be evolving in your knowledge of phobias, such as chronic fear of snakes we have a special tip. Our online Clinical Psychoanalysis course After all, with our classes you can learn more about this rich area of human knowledge. So, don't miss this great opportunity!

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